traded in my ape xtx 1.25 lugged sled for the sidewinder LTX-LE

[Sledroll]

That is where my Duponts wear, if they had put the vespel inserts down another couple inches they would never wear out. Course in the Whiteshell I destroyed one Dupont and ripped out about half the inserts on one side only. Unlike the first sets the last two are wearing funny along side the inserts. Have an original set from the early runs of Duponts in it now so if they don't wear funny its the new runs of Duponts. First set of Duponts lasted for 3500 miles. Second set around 2,000 but where wearing good, changed cause going on a trip. then 1600 and 500 on the last two. All of them wore out just before the last idler wheel where the vespel ends.

I have duponts , but have yet to put them on , 2 years of stock sliders , on my 2015 Apex XTX .
What I did , is put the Pioneer Hyfax saver kit , which adds a set of wheels , and lowers the wheels .
Not only does the sliders look great after 3000 + klms ,but the sled also rolls down slopes on the trail , and glides into corners when off the gas , and the reduced friction is instantly noticeable !
Less friction = less heat , less wear , increased gas mileage , and quicker sled .
I would make a guess, that the duponts are designed to keep the inserts away from thebend at the tipped up area , as it is probably an issue , that they have discovered in testing .
Has anyone ever tried to change the duponts , and install backwards , and see if it works with the inserts at the bend ?
Weren't you talking about doing that ?
How are the clips on your track ?
Could they be affecting the duponts lifetime ?
Track looseness and side force on turns , may also be causing an issue .
By following your varied topics of posts , if anyone is going to figure it out , ITS YOU .
Keep us informed where this goes , as it wouldn't be the first time that the quality of a product varies from production run to production run .
Anyone in manufacturing knows , that the hardest goal to achieve is consistency , in the end product !

 

[snowbeast]

I have duponts , but have yet to put them on , 2 years of stock sliders , on my 2015 Apex XTX .
What I did , is put the Pioneer Hyfax saver kit , which adds a set of wheels , and lowers the wheels .
Not only does the sliders look great after 3000 + klms ,but the sled also rolls down slopes on the trail , and glides into corners when off the gas , and the reduced friction is instantly noticeable !
Less friction = less heat , less wear , increased gas mileage , and quicker sled .
I would make a guess, that the duponts are designed to keep the inserts away from thebend at the tipped up area , as it is probably an issue , that they have discovered in testing .
Has anyone ever tried to change the duponts , and install backwards , and see if it works with the inserts at the bend ?
Weren't you talking about doing that ?
How are the clips on your track ?
Could they be affecting the duponts lifetime ?
Track looseness and side force on turns , may also be causing an issue .
By following your varied topics of posts , if anyone is going to figure it out , ITS YOU .
Keep us informed where this goes , as it wouldn't be the first time that the quality of a product varies from production run to production run .
Anyone in manufacturing knows , that the hardest goal to achieve is consistency , in the end product !

So your sled came with duponts like mine did,and you removed them and added wheels with what stock slides,just to see the difference? My sled rools free as well,just like it came with those duponts on,i really liked them,you can feel it continue to roll free once off the gas.

 

[kylechargerrt]

Coming from my Apex to a Viper I noticed considerably better slide wear. I think a lot of this has to do with track tension. Apex track tension is a lot tighter. Had my viper on the lift to grease and noticed how much the track was sagging but it checked out just fine. When I ran Ape slightly looser than spec noticed a difference with slide life

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[snowbeast]

Coming from my Apex to a Viper I noticed considerably better slide wear. I think a lot of this has to do with track tension. Apex track tension is a lot tighter. Had my viper on the lift to grease and noticed how much the track was sagging but it checked out just fine. When I ran Ape slightly looser than spec noticed a difference with slide life

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

The nice thing about the 15 ape xtx was it had extrovert drivers so I could also let it hang,and I did not have it studded and I had ice scratchers on it,and down a lot of the time.

 

[Sasquatch]

I have duponts , but have yet to put them on , 2 years of stock sliders , on my 2015 Apex XTX .
What I did , is put the Pioneer Hyfax saver kit , which adds a set of wheels , and lowers the wheels .
Not only does the sliders look great after 3000 + klms ,but the sled also rolls down slopes on the trail , and glides into corners when off the gas , and the reduced friction is instantly noticeable !
Less friction = less heat , less wear , increased gas mileage , and quicker sled .
I would make a guess, that the duponts are designed to keep the inserts away from thebend at the tipped up area , as it is probably an issue , that they have discovered in testing .
Has anyone ever tried to change the duponts , and install backwards , and see if it works with the inserts at the bend ?
Weren't you talking about doing that ?
How are the clips on your track ?
Could they be affecting the duponts lifetime ?
Track looseness and side force on turns , may also be causing an issue .
By following your varied topics of posts , if anyone is going to figure it out , ITS YOU .
Keep us informed where this goes , as it wouldn't be the first time that the quality of a product varies from production run to production run .
Anyone in manufacturing knows , that the hardest goal to achieve is consistency , in the end product !

The inserts stop about 6 inches before the bend on the 144 and that is where all the wear is. Installing them backwards is a thought but the vespel would not start until way down the rail and well past the front bend. I looked at mountain Duponts but at 300 a pair and no one can tell me where the vespel ends on the mountain ones (they could have more inserts or the same) I didn't get past that. Clips are like new and tension is or has been set the same. I have to take some pictures of the way the hyfax alongside the inserts are wearing on the last two sets. I think the insert got undermined and came out taking out other inserts.

I can not park my sled on a hill without the brakes as it will roll away on the Duponts. Pioneer wheel kit does not fit 2011 Apex.

 

[greatwhite89]

You may want to look at the XTX_LE instead of the LTX_LE it has all of the goodies that the LTX plus a deeper height track,maybe it might be a tad to tall,but what I have done in the past,if the sled of choice had a lug height to tall,i trimmed it down 1/4" or so,but what you get,is the chance to test and try the taller track,to see if its not better suited to your riding style,you may find you really like the 1 3/4 " height vrs 1 1/2 height,and you don't have to swap out tracks,just a thought.

I love the 1.75" track on my 2016 Apex XTX. With as much power as the Sidewinder has, I think the 1.75" is an awesome choice.

Sent from my XT1055 using Tapatalk

 

[greatwhite89]

I'm on the fence about spring order. If I do I'm going for the XTX LE and try the 1.75 for a season. If I'm not happy I'll put on an Ice Cobra.

I think the XTX LE will be awesome with the 1.75" lug..

Sent from my XT1055 using Tapatalk

 

[Sledroll]

So your sled came with duponts like mine did,and you removed them and added wheels with what stock slides,just to see the difference? My sled rools free as well,just like it came with those duponts on,i really liked them,you can feel it continue to roll free once off the gas.

Just to clarify .
I have Duponts on originally , just didn't know it !
So what I mean , is that after putting the Hyfax saver kit on , the sled rolled way better than with just the stock set up .
I cant look back to check , but why don't the Hyfax saver kit fits your 2011 XTX , as I would imagine the rails are the same as the 2015 ?
Aren't yours the 144 tipped up ?

I never realized the inserts were so hard to see .
I guess the holes help to lubricate and cool , when they fill up with snow and water .

 

[Sasquatch]

Just to clarify .
I have Duponts on originally , just didn't know it !
So what I mean , is that after putting the Hyfax saver kit on , the sled rolled way better than with just the stock set up .
I cant look back to check , but why don't the Hyfax saver kit fits your 2011 XTX , as I would imagine the rails are the same as the 2015 ?
Aren't yours the 144 tipped up ?
View attachment 117898 I never realized the inserts were so hard to see .
I guess the holes help to lubricate and cool , when they fill up with snow and water .

2011 skid is different then the 12 up from what I read. They moved the wheels down on the 12 and re-positioned them. So same rails but different wheel holes. You can buy the larger wheels and might get to stock 2012 wheel depth on the rail. New slides the wheels can be turned when the sled sits on the floor in the shop.

 

[snowbeast]

Just to clarify .
I have Duponts on originally , just didn't know it !
So what I mean , is that after putting the Hyfax saver kit on , the sled rolled way better than with just the stock set up .
I cant look back to check , but why don't the Hyfax saver kit fits your 2011 XTX , as I would imagine the rails are the same as the 2015 ?
Aren't yours the 144 tipped up ?
View attachment 117898 I never realized the inserts were so hard to see .
I guess the holes help to lubricate and cool , when they fill up with snow and water .

I did not try to add his wheel kit,i have run his before and they did work good,my 2015 xtx was just good as it came stock.